Gwen_Crabb

Gwen Crabb

Gwen Crabb

Wales international rugby union footballer

Gwen Crabb (born 28 June 1999) is a Welsh Rugby Union player. She plays second row for Wales internationally and for Gloucester-Hartpury in the Premier 15s.[1][2]

Quick Facts Date of birth, Place of birth ...

Rugby career

Club career

Crabb began her sporting career as a goalkeeper in football – her main sports pursuit from the age of four until her mid-teens. Her skills were such that she was even selected for the Wales under-17s squad.[3]

In an interview with WRU.Wales, she explained her decision to switch sports:

"As soon as I started playing rugby at about 15, it was a no-brainer. I really enjoyed the family atmosphere and ethos in rugby. And I can’t lie – I really enjoyed the physical contact, too. As a goalkeeper, the handling skills transferred really nicely across to rugby – spatial awareness and things like that. The line-out quickly became my thing as well.”[4]

Crabb then played for both Pencoed Phoenix under-18s and Hendy under-18s before joining Worcester Warriors in 2019. In June 2020, she signed with her current club, Gloucester-Hartpury.[5]

International career

Following a year out due to a knee injury, Crabb made her international debut against Hong Kong in the 2018 autumn series held at Cardiff Arm's Park.[6][7] She has since represented the Wales women's squad at each subsequent Six Nations Championship, and has won 22 caps to date.[8] She competed at the 2021 Six Nations Championship.[8]

Crabb is one of 31 Welsh players who have received full-time contracts as of January 2022.[9] She was named in Wales 2022 Six Nations squad.[10] She was in the starting line-up in every match of the Six Nations tournament.[11][12][13][14][15]

Crabb scored the only try in Wales warm-up match against England ahead of the World Cup.[16][17] She was selected in Wales squad for the 2021 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.[18][19]

Personal life

Born in Swansea, Crabb attended Ynystawe Primary School and Morriston Comprehensive before joining the Llandarcy Academy of Sport to develop her rugby skills.[3] She then moved to Cardiff Metropolitan University in 2018 to study strength conditioning, rehabilitation and massage.[3] She balances her role as personal trainer and online coach alongside her rugby career.[6][3]

References

  1. [1]
    Shepard, Kit (2022-10-09). "Wales Women's Rugby World Cup Squad 2022 – Wales 18-15 Scotland". Rugby World. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
  2. [2]
    "Hartpury well represented in Women's Rugby World Cup squads". Hartpury University and Hartpury College. 2022-10-03. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  3. [3]
    "Catch of the Day – Gwen Crabb's transfer from Football to Rugby". Sport Wales. 2019-12-16. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  4. [4]
    "Gwen aiming high in Six Nations". Welsh Rugby Union. 2020-01-17. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
  5. [5]
    "Crabb signs for Gloucester-Hartpury". www.newschainonline.com. 2020-06-26. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
  6. [6]
    Thomas, Graham (2019-11-29). "Gwen Crabb . . . From Keeper To Jumper As She Rises With Wales". Dai Sport. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
  7. [7]
    "Dragon News : McComish handed start by Wales Women". dragonsrugby.wales. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  8. [8]
    "Gwen Crabb". Welsh Rugby Union. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
  9. [9]
    Masters, Tom (2022-07-06). "Wales Women award 17 further contracts as Cunningham extends stay". TikTok Women’s Six Nations. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  10. [10]
    "Wales name squad for 2022 TikTok Six Nations". Scarlets Rugby. 2022-03-17. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  11. [11]
    Baber, Andy (2022-03-26). "Rose powers Wales to second-half comeback in Dublin". TikTok Women’s Six Nations. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  12. [12]
    Jefford, Oli Dickson (2022-04-02). "Wales fight back to stun Scotland in Cardiff". TikTok Women’s Six Nations. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  13. [13]
    Reid, James (2022-04-09). "Forwards power England to victory over Wales". TikTok Women’s Six Nations. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  14. [14]
    Bray, Jonny (2022-04-22). "France win against Wales to set up clash with England". TikTok Women’s Six Nations. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  15. [15]
    "Italy strike late to stun Wales". TikTok Women’s Six Nations. 2022-04-30. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  16. [16]
    "Red Roses defeat Wales in Bristol". www.englandrugby.com. 2022-09-14. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  17. [17]
    Grey, Becky (2022-09-14). "England become first team to win 25 Tests in a row". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  18. [18]
    Jones, Liz (2022-09-21). "Wales Rugby World Cup squad named". Welsh Rugby Union. Retrieved 2022-09-22.
  19. [19]
    "Wales: Siwan Lillicrap captains 32-player Rugby World Cup squad featuring 19 tournament debutants". Sky Sports. 2022-09-21. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
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